Diorama of 7 Years War Figures
PART TWO

ADJUSTMENTS ~ I put some more terracota under the Hussar's base to secure him and to give the effect that he has just reached the top of the hill.

USING FLOCKING GEL ~ Flocking Gel is an acrylic based material used for texturing the bases of figures and can be mixed with acrylic paints before application to give a ground or grass colour depending on which type you use. There are four types: 1) Xtra-fine for making water. 2) Fine for simulating mud or snow/ice. 3) Medium for grass or earth such as ploughed field or open field. 4) Coarse for rocky ground. MIX WITH PAINT ~ I first put the medium flocking gel I have chosen for texturing the ground onto a plastic ice cream top where I add the paint to mix it. I use a spatula to get it out of the pot and in a matter of seconds the acrylic paint is absorbed.

TERRAIN COLOUR ~ I wanted a more reddish colour for the earth so I applied a different colour paint to the original colour and mixed until I was happy with the result.

APPLYING FLOCKING GEL ~ left; Use the spatula to apply the gel texture over and around the bases of the figures to hide them.Be careful not to smudge it on the legs. If you do you can easily wipe it off with a tissue or wet paint brush. A thin layer is all that is needed.

GRASS FLOCKING ~ Once the whole surface is covered with flocking gel you can apply the grass flock immediately. No waiting! Just get the grass flock and pour it liberally over the gel texture which will remain damp for over an hour. Flocking Gel normally dries solid within 1 to 2 hours depending on the heat and humidity of where you are working. ~ Right: Notice I left a part unflocked to simulate a hill track on the right of the Diorama.

CLEANING UP LEFT ~ After allowing it to settle for a few minutes just pour the excess off onto some newspaper to be used again. MAKING THE TREE ~ apply glue to the grape stork which at the moment looks just that!.But the bulbous storks which held the grapes can hold a fair ammount of foam flock which is what I am going to use to make it look like a tree.

LEFT: Sticking the foam RIGHT ~ The finished tree.

PART 3 "FINISHING TOUCHES" COMING SOON. This part uploaded 30th Sept 2004